IT WAS a winning comeback for Murcia!
After a year of hiatus, the town's Tinabu-ay Festival has again wowed locals and tourists of its colorful and meaningful festivity.
It was adjudged as champion of this year's Best of Festival Dances Competition during the jam-packed opening of the 26th Panaad sa Negros Festival at Panaad Park and Stadium in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City Monday night, April 8.
In 2017, Murcia bagged the grand slam title after emerging as champion for three consecutive years.
The town had a good rest in 2018 and was able to make a powerful comeback this year after besting 25 other local government units (LGUs).
Ma. Lina Sanogal, executive director of Panaad sa Negros Festival, said the annual competition showcases the best festivals of the province.
Sanogal said festivals embody the life of Negrenses in their respective locality, and the kind of celebration that they have.
“It also mirrors the artistry of Negrenses in portraying their economic activity, art, history, culture, heritage and tourism attraction,” she said, adding that Tinabu-ay Festival, for instance, reflects the day-to-day market life of the Murciahanons.
Silay City's Kansilayan Festival emerged as first runner-up this year while Kabankalan City's Udyakan Festival bagged the second runner-up award.
La Castellana's Bailes de Luces Festival and Bago City's Babaylan Festival were adjudged as the third and fourth runners-up, respectively.
The winning LGUs received P75,000, P60,000, P45,000, P30,000 and P20,000 in cash prizes plus trophies.
Sanogal, also the provincial planning and development officer, said festivals play an important role in sustaining tourism influx in Negros Occidental.
The competition, she said, is giving tourists a glimpse of what the province can offer in every LGU especially in terms of festivities.
“We have the best festivals in the country,” Sanogal said, adding that this has been validated through the Hall of Fame award given by the Department of Tourism - Association of Tourism Officers in the Philippines as Best Tourism Event provincial festival category.
Meanwhile, this year's Panaad sa Negros Festival is themed “Beyond a Promise... A Legacy.” It runs from April 8 to 14.